White Apron Opens

There's a new lunch player in town, y'all.

The sandwich shop we reported on back in July, White Apron, has opened its doors.

White Apron specializes in sandwiches - they have monthly and daily specials such as Italian subs, croque monsieurs, tuna, roast beef - the works - plus a side dish of the day.  For $8 a sandwich, we think it's a pretty good deal (we particularly like the 91 cent fountain sodas and chips!).

Their hours are 11-3 (we were hopeful they'd be open for dinner too, but no such luck - yet anyway).  You can go visit them on 11th between E and Pennsylvania.

NB: This is just the first of the "Aprons" to open in Penn Quarter this year - Red Apron Butchery has plans to open this spring on D between 7th and 8th.  Progress is moving along there nicely, from what we've seen.

Inauguration Planning

The great folks at DowntownDC put together a useful packet for how to get around when Inauguration strikes next Monday, January 21st (hint: don't.)  You should review the whole thing, but we thought this blurb for residents would be particularly helpful for PQInsiders.

Also: don't forget their awesome list of restaurants with Inauguration specials - almost all of them here in Penn Quarter.

Celebrity Sighting

Parks and Rec actor Chris Pratt was spotted at The Source last night while folks screened his new movie Zero Dark Thirty at neighboring Newseum.  Pratt plays a member of Seal Team Six.

He dined with Mark Boal, writer/producer of the much-buzzed film, but no word on what they ate.

Pratt is no stranger to DC - as you recall, he and the rest of his Parks and Rec castmates were in Penn Quarter filming last summer.

Daikaya Pop Up

Daikaya, the ramen shop that's due to open on Sixth Street this very month, knows we're anxious to get a taste of their Sapporo-style noodles - and so they're doing a pop-up at LivingSocial's 918 F Street location on January 18th and 19th.  They're the number-one most anticipated restaurant this year, according to Washington City Paper, so we expect the pop-up tickets to go fast.

$79 will get you a six course meal - below - plus a cocktail, a sake, and a Sapporo lager.

For those wondering, the exact opening for the Sixth Street location hasn't been announced yet.  We've got our eye on it.

Panera Bread Opens in Chinatown

A couple months ago, we reported on construction starting at Panera Bread a year after announcing their plans to occupy the location.

They made up for lost time, because the Panera Bread opened yesterday.  There are two stories, with 52 seats on the first floor and 144 on the second.

Their hours will be as follows:

Monday - Thursday - 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Friday - 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Sunday - 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

We are always excited for a new lunch place in Penn Quarter.  We suspect that despite the plethora of sandwich places in the neighborhood (e.g. ABP, Cafe Phillips, Camille's, Corner Baker, Cosi, etc.), Panera will do just fine.

The low is in the 30's over the weekend - go get some soup!